Of course, the study of friction is nothing new; and to explain the 20th-century crisis, and to understand where tribology may yet take us, we must first understand how we got here. So begins Vail’s ...

In this video, we explain the capstan equation and how friction affects a rope or string wrapped around a surface. You’ll learn where the equation comes from, what each term means, and how it’s ...

Learn how to solve a ladder friction problem and determine the minimum coefficient of friction. Step-by-step explanations make it easy to understand the physics behind ladder stability and forces in ...